Analysts predict 29 million HDTV households by 2008‚ but most not via over-the-air

Strategy Analytics, a research and consulting company based in Newton, Mass., predicts that 29 million U.S. households will own HD-capable television displays by 2008.

By 2008, the number of HD-capable displays in U.S. homes will have reached 33.4 million units. (Pictured Sony's 57-inch Hi-Scan 1080i 16:9 projection HD widescreen TV)

About half of those households, the firm forecasts, will receive an HD television service for their display. However, 84 percent of those receiving HD service will get it from cable or satellite, not terrestrial broadcast.

The analysts say HDTV sales are being driven by demand for larger, high-quality TV displays. Today, the majority of TV receivers retailing at $1500, or more, are HD-capable. Strategy Analytics predicts that 4.8 million U.S. homes will own an HD-capable display by the end of 2002, of which nearly one million will also have HDTV tuners for cable, satellite or terrestrial platforms.

By 2008, the number of HD-capable displays in U.S. homes will have reached 33.4 million units. Of these displays, 27 percent will be connected to an HDTV service via cable, 14 percent via satellite, and eight percent via digital terrestrial television.

Increasing support of cable and satellite operators and their content partners is a key factor in the take-up of HDTV services, the report found.

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